Piston ring



f F1354, y

tion illustrating .modified embodiments;- of the` composite ringofmyinvention. r i

Patented Sept. 2, 1,1941

rrs'roN RING nin-01er. Phillips, Hastings, Mich., assignmto HastingsManufacturing Company, Hastings,

Mien.`

` lApplication ctober 29, 1938, Serial-No. 237,687

This invention relates to improvements in piston rings. Y

The main objects of my invention are:

"'Flrst, to provide a composite piston ring havin'g aplurality ofcylinder wall engaging surwall.

cluding'a pair-of relatively hard cylinder wall engaging segments orelements, a spacer therebetween, and a .plurality of' inner ,springsassuring independent radial action of the first named elements.

Third, to provide acomposite ring of the type. described characterizedby a minimum of wear between the parts thereof, whereby increased life nofthe assembly is. assured.

and for proper.oildrainage. y n n l Fifth, to provide a compositeringfofthe typedescribed which assures high unit pressure on a cylinderwall yet without, however, an objectlonablygreat totalwall tension andresultant drag."

Furthrfobjects 'relating to details and econor mies of my invention willdefinitely appear from; the description tofollOW. The invention isdeflnedintheclaims; A structure embodying the featuresof my in- ,e

vention is 'illustratedjin'tl'le accompanyingdraw- Jing. wherein:

` Fig. `1` is'a `fragmentary view in vertical sec- A tionillustrating'my improved composite'ring assembly in operativefrelationto apistonjand cylr ademen. 1 g f .f ;r y f fa' fragmentary enlarged'view in horl-V Fis- 2 i zoet-ar secuenjfurther uiustratirig 'details' ofthe construction.'

to more-clearly illustrate details of the onstrucn,

tion.it

5, 6, and'iare views in transverse sec- 1 The Apresent inventionrelatesto improvements Aini-a composite ringof Yther typedescribed and.L claimed inmyLetters Patent No. 2,148,977, is-v sued reb'ruaryas,1939.-":rh1s case', like my eoimprovements vin the 4aforesaid type ofring,

Second, to provide a piston 'ringassembly in-` 440 l Figi is afragl'nen'taryy view inside 'elevation (ci. aos-4s) lthereof and assurean independent actionof the sealing sections oi the composite ring'. f QIn the` drawing, which is greatly magnified for the purpose of moreclearly illustrating the -5 elements of the invention. andin `which `noattempt has been made` to illustrate the exact relative size of theparts, the reference. numeral I designates a piston foraninternalcornbuston engine which is recipro'ceble in a cylinder 2 andhas an annular groove 3 containing the com-A positerlng l of vmyinvention. 4This. composite ring or ring assembly consists o fa pairofthin segments or elements I, `l which' areV split for insertion inthegroove and arevin expanding edge contact with the cylinder Wall,'l'hesefelements are of hard material, beingformed preferably of ribbonfsteel. YBetweenelements 57, 6 I dispose a third cylinder wall coactinglring o'r element l which, likerthe elements 5,- 6, is of thin hardmaterial, formed preferably-oi ribbon steel, and is split forassembly-and expansion. The element 'I is of-.less radial thicknessythan the ele` ments v5, 6 and carries aplurality of yspacer lugs orrivet-like projections 8 which areysecured inl 25 holes in thespacenelement` r'l preferably` by upy settingor heading over the lugs oneachend to l an accurate over-.all axial v dimension. lThe said 1 lugsarespaced suiiiciently closely, together cir- -cumferentially ofelement-fl-` whereby lthey en- 30 gage the side elements 5, 6v andpreventaxial sagging,thereofrfhowever ythe lugs' 8 are far -enoughfaparatosecure-1adequate .drainage of .the ,oil removed fromthe cylinderwall f2, by all three of the elements il, 6,3. if;

:Disposed between'-the sidey elements', 6, and in radialfthxusi',engagement with the intermediate i element- 1 Vis an expander `ersteelexpanding spring 9` otapprcximatelyjthe.:same width as the spacelbetween` thel elements 5 6.1 Behind spring .9 I dispose a furtherspring 1Ql off substantially ,the tsame width" as the .axial dimensionof the groove 3.; kEach oiftliewexpandersprings 9, l0 ispf`1 `genera1polygonalfoutlineihaving yrounded ,ring iejngag'lng' ds or' crlmps' IIand being splitifo'r free acti ins rtion ingroove a .'r s l\ Inoperatiomitw bappa nt'thatftheoutermost expander'9'engages*lintermediate elementl to thrust 1the"'s'ame"' radlally'foutward intoeirctive engagementrwitn the cylinder-.wall whue thefinnermostfeitpnder't `performsifa similar function with respect to the-outer elements 5,6. L Independent seal-ing .factione ofy ',thegfintegmediate .elementflfrelativtoJthefoutersorffslde elements which 'further minimize'wear'`betweenlthe Partsv`55 5,"6 thusfattain'ed :andit-is. assured-hattet allmodification, I.,

' tive. tothe number times in the operation of the ring there will be afull peripheral sealing engagement o! an element or elements, regardlessof the taper or irregularities which are often present in a worncylinder.

The advantages of my construction are thatin its preferred form threenarrow. independently acting cylinder wall contacting areas arepresented to the cylinder wall for the removal of excessive oil andeil'ective sealing against blowby. Furthermore, the use of the spacedlugv lizing separate inner springs each of which is in radial thrustengagement with one, and only one,

of the upper and low'er elements, 6. Similarly, and if desired, myassembly may include only a single expander, ii such is desired in theinterest of economy.

In the present form, it is apparent that wear on the inner springs orexpanders at the point oi contact thereof with the steel sections isminimized, since it is distributed over a plurality of the expanders,and accordingly thel life of the assembly isl increased in this respect.

In Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, I illustrate various modifications of theprinciple of the present invention. In Fig. 4, there isprovided aseparate expander spring for each of the elements 5, 6, I, therespective expanders being designated I2, I3, Il. In this form, eachinner springis in radial thrust engagement with one, and only on ringelement. y V

In Fig. 5, I illustrate an embodiment wherein a single expander springl5 is utilized toexpand the lower and upper elements 5', 5 respectively,

the intermediate element 1 being of less radial thickness, whereby itis. not contactedby Vthe expander.

In Fig. 6, the embodiment illustrated has Athree Y elements 5, 6, 1' ofequal radial thickness and aK single expander spring l5 in radial thrustengagement with each` thereof. l

device, which is genl erally designated IB, consists of athin/cylinderwan contacting 'element l1 of moterieuy loss P fradialthickness l 'is spaced equally therefrom in'an axial direction i, InFigL' 7, .the spacer than the elements 5, 6, which bymeansoiajpluralityof crimped or U-shaped a't'clipsv embedded at their free enfminut-.nations u" in oumnent n. mthis Il for the outer elements i i:vhowever it willbe apparentthat urther'modications relaare.I availablein the embodiment of Fig. '1.

It should be imderotood that although I have' described each otthethin-or ribbon-like intermediate 4elements 1,1. .orgi'l ot 'my inventionV asbeing `of steel and, es.. matter ofr not, tha a i Ithe preferredconstmction, it is nevertheless pos- *"1" sible to make the aforesaidintermediate elements of cast iron or other suitable material andthereby produce a ring which gives desirable operuuhaumfemnder Spring2liV V101 the mfermidiite element I1 and an .expander vdesign oftheexpanders ation. I now regard ribbon steel as the preferred material.

In each of the ,illustrated embodiments, the advantage of independentaction of a plurality of thin hard cylinder wall contacting elements is'attained and also the accompanying advantage of minimization of wear ofthe parts. Each form provides an eiective Wall contact throughout theentire peripheral dimension of the cylinder at all times and the resultis that substantial economies in oil consumption and sealing action areeffected.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in embodiments' whichare very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe otherembodiments or adaptations asit is believed this disclosure will enablethose skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may bedesired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: m

1. A composite piston ring assembly comprising a pair of I annular thinsplit ribbon-like sections of steel adapted for edge engagement with acylinder wall, means disposed behind said sections for radially urgingthe same outwardly, a

spacerv disposed between the sections to maintain the same in axiallylspaced relation, comprising a thin split ribbon-like element engageablewith the cylinder wall between the sections, and a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced rivetlike members extending axially through theele- V ment and having portions disposed on 'either axial side thereofin rigid sustaining engagement with the sections to maintain the same inoperative spaced relation, and an inner ,expanding spring disposedbehind said ribbon-like element and engagingthe element only to urge thespacer radially outwardly independently of the sections, whereby thespacer is contacted throughout'an axial distance substantially less thanthe full axial spacer dimension so that wear on said spring by thespacer is decreased, said rivetlike members. providing therebetweenample drainage ,space therebetween ior oil past the spacer,

2. A composite piston ring assembly comprising a pair oi' annular thinsplit expansible ribbonlike sections adapted forV edge engagement with acylinder wall, a spacer disposed between the sections to maintain` thesame in axially spaced relation, saidspacer comprising a thin splitribbon-like element engageable with the cylinder wall, f a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced rivet-like members extending axially throughthe element and having portions disposed on either axial side thereof inrigid sustaining engagement with the sections to maintain the same inopera- Y tive 'spaced relation, and inner expanding means disposedbehind said ribbon-like element and engaging the same independently ofsaid sections to urge the spacer radially outwardly independently of thesections, said rivet-like members. providing therebetween ample drainagespace therebetween ioroil past the spacer.

3. A composite piston ring assembly lcomprising a pair of annular thinsplit expansible ribbonlike sections adapted for edge engagement with acylinder wall, a spacer associated with the' sections to maintainthesame in operative parallel relation, said spacer comprising a thin splitelement, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced rivet-like membersextending axially of and cartied by said element, said members havingporvtherebetween ample drainage,

providing therebetween ample drainage space therebetween for oil pastthe spacer.

4. A. composite piston ring assembly compris- 'ing a pair of thin splitribbon steel sections adapted for edge engagement with a cylinder wall,means disposed behind said sections for radially urging the sameoutwardly, a spacer disposed between the sections to maintain the samein'axially spaced relation, said'spacer comprising an annular splitelement of ribbon steel adapted to engage the';cylinder wall, and aplurality of circumferentially spaced lug-like members clarried by theelement and having portions disposedon either axial side thereof insustaining engagement with the sections, said members providing spacefor oil through the spacer.

5. A composite piston ring assembly comprising -a pair of thin splitexpansible ribbon steel sections adapted for edge engagement with acylinder wall, a spacer associated with the sections to maintain thesame in operative parallel relation, said spacer comprising an annularsplit ribbonlike element, vaplurality of circumferentiallyl spacedaxially extending lug-like members carried by the element and havingportions dis-v posed on at least one axial side thereof in susltainingengagement with .an Iadjacent section,

gaging sections of ribbon steel, an intermediate spacer membercomprising a thin split expansible cylinder wall engaging element ofribbon steel having a plurality of circumferentially'spaced lug vmembersdisposed axially thereof for supporting engagement with said sections,an annular expander acting on Said pair of sections, and a secy ondannular expander acting on the said wall enthroughout an axial distancesubstantially less than the axial space occupied by the spacer to'thereby decrease wear lon the spring by the spacer. A

8. .A composite piston ring assembly comprisingA t a pair of expansiblethin split steel ribbon-'like sections adapted to engage a`cylinderwall, a spacer associated with said sections and having a steel cylinderwall engaging portion and means projecting axially on opposite axialsides Athereof to rigidly maintain the sections in operativel parallelrelation, and an annular split expanding spring in restricted axialengagement with said spacer and free from thrust engagement with saidsections to thereby urge the wall engaging portion of the spacerradially outwardly independently of the sections, said last named springcontacting the spacer throughout an axial distance substantially lessthan the axial space occupied by the spacer to thereby decrease wear onthe spring by the spacer.

. 9. A composite piston ring assembly comprising annular thin splitexpansible cylinder wall engaging side members of wearresistingmaterial, an intermediatel spacer mem-ber disposed between saidside members and comprising athin split cylinder wall'engaging member-ofwear resisting material, and'lug-like members carried by said cylinderwall engaging member for spacing coaction with said side members wherebysaid intermediate member and side members are held in relative spacedrelation, andexpander means independently acting on at least one of saidside members and on said intermediate cylinder wall i engaging member.

10. A composite piston ring assembly compris- -ing annular thin splitexpansible cylinder wall Agaging element of said intermediate spacermember.

'7. A composite pistonring-assembly comprising A a pair of thin splitribbon-like sections adapted` l Y to be disposed parallel and on edge toengage a cylinder wall, expanding spring means engagingl said sectionsto thrust the same radially, an annular 'spacer associated with saidsectionsand having a cylinder wall engaging portion and means to rigidlymaintain the sections in parallel operative relation, said-spacer havingoil drainengaging side members, an intermediate spacer member disposedbetween said side members and comprising a thin split cylinder wallengaging member, andlug-like members carried by said cylinder wallengaging member for spacing co- Laction with said side members wherebysaid inter-mediate member and s ide members are held in relative spacedrelation, and expander means independently acting on said side membersand -on said intermediate spacer member independently of the sidemembers.

` 11; Acomposite piston ring assembly compris- .ing a pair of expansiblethin split ribbon-like sections adapted to engage `a cylinder wall,ex

urge the wall engaging portion o f the spacer radially outwardlyindependently of the sections,

age openings of substantial size therein, and an annular split expandingspring in restricted axial engagement with. said spacer and fnee fromthrust engagement with said sections to thereby urge the wall engagingportion of the 'spacer' radially outwardly independently of thesections, said last named spring contacting the spacer thereby decreasewear on the spring bythev spacer. l'

HARoLD P. PHILLIPS.

